The Devil's Highway

Details

https://www.meetup.com/OBSaltRiver/events/259083317/

Let's go back and scrape some floorboards.
Details so far:

Leave town Friday June 7th at 4PM from Chevron Apache Junction,
75 E 29th Ave, Apache Junction, AZ 85219

Here's our route for Friday night getting us to our hotel in Safford assuming we stay at the same one as last year:

https://bit.ly/2qlqDUa

It shows 132 miles @2 hrs and 29 min so it should be a pretty good ride, especially with the sun at our back and not in our eyes at that time of day in that direction.

-=Room Details=-

Desert Inn
1391 W Thatcher Blvd, Safford, AZ 85546-3304

Check in 6/7/19, departing on 6/9/19
Rate: 80.00 + tax per room/night

As of March 6, 2019, we have 10 rooms reserved for the group at the Best Western Desert Inn.

Currently there are 5 King and 5 QQ being held, however, the room types can be modified upon availability. Please call the front desk at 928-428-0521 to reserve one of the rooms in your name/info. Please mention you are with the Gnome group when calling.
They offer a free hot breakfast, free HBO, small microfridge in all rooms, outdoor pool, and guest laundry facility.
If you have any questions feel free to ask.

*Front desk 928-428-0521
Email fd.bwdesertinn@gmail.com
*GM April McGregor 928-428-0521
Email om.bwdesertinn@gmail.com

Friday night dinner details will remain fluid at this point due to unknown arrival time, however, we may well find ourselves at C&C's Hideaway Bar for dinner Saturday night after the ride.

https://www.facebook.com/12morton/?rf=296584323733962

Saturday KSU will most likely be somewhere between 8-9AM depending on group consensus Friday night, here's our route for the day
https://bit.ly/2GQeBbB

Sunday we will say our goodbyes, some will go home, some will carry on to the top of Mt Graham for another solid day of riding before heading back to the valley.
Here's that ride to Mt Graham
https://bit.ly/2v5GvPv

This will be a solid weekend of technical riding where time will be taken with no rush, allowing everyone to ride their own ride. There are 1st and 2nd gear turns and when the speed limit is posted as 10, that's pretty much about the fastest you'll want to go anyhow.
And now, some info and history on our route

The most dramatic section of former Rt 666 is known today as the Coronado Trail Scenic Byway. This will be a 278 mile ride on one of the most scenic stretches of American tarmac, the Devil’s Highway.

• U.S. Rt. 666 was first commissioned in 1926 with a northern terminus of Cortez, CO.

• The Signage arrived to Arizona in 1938, stretching to Douglas, 30 miles of it overlapped U.S. Route 66.

• 1985 marked the end of U.S. Route 66 designation, leaving U.S 666 an orphan.

• Dislike of the reference to the antichrist, street signs were stolen at a faster pace than they could be replaced, rerouting and complaints from superstitious drivers were a few of the reasons that lead to the gradual cessation of Route 666.
• Arizona changed the numbering to U.S. 191 in 1993.
• On May 31, 2003, U.S. Route 666 officially became extinct, leaving legends, scenic miles and the nickname “The Devil’s Highway” for posterity.
• The 278 mile long Devil’s Highway loop covers the most scenic stretch of the former Rt. 666, which is actually one of the finest rides in the entire U.S.

Distance: 278 Miles
Elevation variation <6,000 Ft.
Number of curves < 1,000

Our run starts/ends in Safford, AZ with the northernmost point at Alpine, AZ. The ride loops clockwise, so we’ll go uphill to enjoy the switchbacks of AZ Rt 191 and return through the broad sweepers of NM Rt 180:

• Rt. 191 North (AZ) Clifton, Morenci, Hannagan Meadow, Alpine
• Rt. 180 (NM) Luna, Alma
• Rt. 78 (NM, AZ) Mule Creek, Three Way
• Rt. 191 South (AZ) Safford

Some say that this section of the road has 1100 curves in 95 miles. The final count is up to you, but don’t expect a fast paced ride. The Clifton – Alpine leg takes over 3 hours to complete.

EDIT(051319) Making a stop Saturday at Catwalk Recreation Area if time permits
https://bit.ly/2HkcmPl